Vending-machine.



F. H'. cox., vENn|N`G MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED ,IUNE I6, |916 Patented NOV. 21, 1916.

F. H. cox. vENmNG MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED JUNE I6,A v1916.

Patented Nov. 21, 1916.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

A TTOH/VEYS F. H. COX. vENmNG MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 16. 1916.

Patented Nov. 21, 1916.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

A NORA/EVS Y E. H.' cox. VENDING MACHINE. APPLICATION vfILII) JUNE IS. ISIS.

Patented Nov. 2l, 1916.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

i* i ATTORNEYS l FRANK HALLER COX, OF GRATTON, VIRGINIA.

VENDINGr-MAGHINE.

Specification of Letters Yatent.

Patented Nov. 21, 1916.

Application filed June 16, 1916. Serial No. 104,017.

To all whom it may concern.'

Be it known that I, FRANK H. Cox, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Gratten, in the county of Tazewell and State of Virginia, have invented an Improvement in Vending-Machines, of which the following is a specification.

rlhis invention is an improvement in vending machines and has particular reference t0 a coin controlled apparatus for dispensing post cards.

Briefly stated, the invention consists of a casing in which are rotatably mounted one or more card rac-ks and movable in said casing is a lock mechanism associated with each rack and carried by a card lifting device, said mechanism being released, by the dropping of a coin thereinto, whereby to permit of an adjustment of said lifting device to a point adjacent the card desired to be extracted from the casing and engaged therewith so that the same may be lifted through an outlet in the casing having a closure normally locked in closed position and automatically opened by a portion of said lock mechanism.

An object of the invention is the provision of a vending machine including a lock mechanism of novel construction and consisting of a locking member which normally assumes a locking position whereby any adjustment of said mechanism is prevented until the insertion of a coin into the same, and after the extraction of a card said member is again automatically adjusted to locking position.

Another object is to provide a card lifting device movable with the loc-l: casing and consisting of gripping jaws for engaging a card whereby the same may be lifted from its position on the rack to the outlet opening of the casing.

A. further object is to provide the closure for the outlet opening ofthe casing with a lock which is automatically released by a portion of said locking mechanism as the same is adjusted upwardly, said portion be-A ing also adapted to engage, upon the continued upward movement of the lock mechanism after the closure lock has been released, a rack element carried by said closure and move the same to opened position.

The inventive idea involved is capable of receiving a variety of mechanical expressions, one of which, for the purpose of illustrating the invention, is shown in the accompanying drawings; but it is to be expressly understood that these drawings are employed to Jfacilitate the description of the invention as a whole and not to define the limits thereof, reference being had to the appended claims for this Purpose.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a front elevation of the machine constructed in accordance with the invention. Fig. 2 is a section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a detail view of the lock mechanism in its lowered locking position. Fig. 4 is a section on the line Xw-X of Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. i showing the parts in the position assumed when the locking member of the lock mechanism is in the dotted line position shown in Fig. 3. Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the casing for the lock mechanism and a portion of the card lifting device employed in connection with the invention. Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 3 showing the parts in position when the lock mechanism has been raised to the upper end of the machine. Fig. 8 is a fragmentary top plan view of the machine. Fig. 9 is a section on the line 9-9 of Fig. 8.

There is illustrated in the drawings what is now believed to be a preferred form of the invention, in which a casing 10 has rotatably mounted therein in vertical position one or more card supporting racks 11, three of these racks being shown in the present instance, for containing cards of different kinds and value. rlhe'front of the casing is provided with a guide slot 12 extending from the top to the bottom thereof for each ofv said racks. The top of the casing is provided with an outlet opening 13 through which the cards are extracted from the adjacent rack, said opening being closed by a pivoted closure 14 normally retained in locked position by means of a latch member 15 pivoted to theV closure and having yone end thereof adapted to engage a portion of the casing while theother end is inclined downwardly from the bottom of said closure, as best illustrated in Fig. 2. Mounted interiorly of the casing on both sides of each slot 12 is a guide standard 16 which preferably extends through a small opening in the clo-` sure 14, the upper end of the standard being engaged by a vertical end 1S of a supporting bracket 19 secured to the top of the casing as shown in Fig. 8.

Each rack 11 is provided at the bottom thereof with a bevel gear 20 engaged by a similar gear 21 carried by the inner end of a shaft 22 having a handle 23 whereby the rack may be rotated to any desired position. A card lifting device is employed with each rack and preferably comprises an arm 24 having a handle 25 and projecting laterally through the slot 12 into said casing and adjustable both vertically and horizontally therein. The inner end of the arm 24 is provided with a transverse fixed jaw 26 preferably having a sharpened lower edge 27 and an inner concave face 2S with which is associated a pivoted spring pressed jaw 29 arranged on each side of the arm 24 and having a cam gripping edge 30 which cooperates with the face 28 of the fixed jaw to grip a card therebetween, the arm 24 being notched as indicated at 31 in order to receive an edge of the card. It will thus be seen that by first rotating the rack on which the card desired is mounted and then adjusting the lifting device to a point adjacent said card the upper edge thereof may be engaged between the jaws 26 and 29 and by reason of the engaging faces thereof said card will be tightly gripped between the same whereupon said lifting device may be moved upwardly in the slot and the card extracted from the casing after the closure 14 has been opened in a manner which will presently appear.

There is associated with the lifting device a coin controlled mechanism for retaining the same in a locked position whereby a card cannot be extracted from the casing until a coin is deposited in the loclr mechanism. Thus the mechanism preferably comprises a substantially rectangular casing 32 having guide passages 33 and 34 at its ends the latter being of greater width to receive the standard 16 which, for a greater portion of its length, is of the width shown in Fig. 6, the same being reduced adjacent its upper end to provide an inclined surface 35, as illustrated in Fig. 7, for a purpose which will presently appear. rlhe top of the casing 32 is provided with a coin inlet 36 in alinement with the outlet 37 in the bottom of said casing, said outlet being arranged over a coin drawer or box 38 mounted in the bottom of the casing 10 for receiving the coins which pass through the different lock casings. A coin chute 39 is mounted in the front of casing 10 and associated with each of the lock mechanisms, the inner end of said chute being in communication with the coin inlet 36 when the lock casing 32 is in its lowermost position. The top of the casing 32 preferably has a bracket 40 secured thereto which receives thearm 24 of the lifting device whereby the lock mechanism will be adjusted vertically together with the said lifting device.

A locking member 41 is pivoted at 42 in the casing 32 and is provided at one end v with an enlarged head 43 preferably having serrated standard engaging edge 44 which, when the mechanism is in the position shown in Figs. 2 and 3, engages the adjacent edge of said standard and prevents said lifting device from being adjusted, the locking member being retained in its locking position by means of a spring 45` engaging a shoulder 46 formed on said member 41 intermediate the ends thereof. By inserting a coin of the proper denomination into the chute 39 the same will pass into the inlet 36 and in falling through the casing 32'will contact the end of locking member 41 opposite the head 43, said end being projected into the path of said coin. A slid-ing element 47 is mounted in the casing 32 tomove at right angles to the standards 16 and at its inner end is engaged by a leaf spring 48 which at all times tends to force the other beveled end 49 of said element outwardly against the edge of the adjacent standard 16. This sliding element has pivoted thereto, in a recess 59, a latch member 51 preferably formed of a flat piece of metal and bent so that the upper free edge thereof will have a slight curvature as indicated at 52 in Figs. 4 and 5. l/Vhen the parts are in the full line position shown in Fig. 3, the upper end of the latch member 51 is retained entirely within .the recess 50, as shown in Fig. 4, by the head 43 of the locking member 41. When said member 41 is swung about its pivot, by reason of the contact of the coin therewith, the said head 43 is moved to the dotted line position shown in Fig. 3 whereupon the upper end of the latch member 51 will swing' out of the recess 50 and the outermost portion of the upper curved edge thereof will engage under the lower bevel edge 53 of the head 43 and thus prevent the same from returning to locking positionl The card lifting device may now be adjusted to any desired position.

ldlhen the lock casing 32 has been elevated to a point adjacent the beveled reduced portion 35 of the widened standard 16 the spring 48 will force the sliding member 47 outwardly into the position shown in Fig. 7, .vhereupon the upper curved edge ofthe latch member 51 will be disengaged from the beveled edge 53 of the member 41 and thus permit said locking member to return to its locking position. The element 47 is provided with an elongated slot 54 for receiving the pivot 42 of the member 41 whereby movement of said element 47 will be permitted. The latter element is also provided with a spring engaging portion 55 which contacts the spring 45 and moves the free end thereof from engagement with the shoulder 46 of said member 41. rlhe casing 32 then has only a limited movement between the beveled surface 35 and the upper end of the casing l0 at which time the card is removed vfrom 'the lifting device. After the extrac-v tion of the card from the casing the lifting device together with the loclr mechanism is moved to the bottom of the slot l2. It will be understood that the serrated locking edge 44 of the member 41 will move freely over the adjacent edge of the standard 16 as the casing 32 is being returned to normal position but should it be attempted to again lift the mechanism said edge 44 will bind against the edge of the standard and effectively prevent any movement of the parts.

Means are provided for unlocking and opening the closure 14 after a card has been detached from a rack and Preferably comprises a vertically arranged rack bar 56 carried by the casing 32 having its upper end extending a considerable distance above said casing. When the card lifting device is moved upwardly the inclined end of the lock l5 will be in the path of movement of the rack 56 and when contacted thereby the same will be swung to the position shown in Fig. 9 whereupon the closure 14 is unlocked. The instant that the upper end of the rack bar 56 contacts the closure 14 the rack surface of said bar engages a segmental rack 57 carried by the under side of said closure and continued upward movement of the said bar 56 will cause the parts to move to the dotted line position shown in Fig. 9 whereupon the closure is opened and the card desired may be extracted from the casing.

What is claimed is:

1. A vending machine comprising a casing, an article support mounted therein, guiding elements also supported in said casing, a coin controlled lock mechanism adjustable along said guiding elements and normally in locked position, means for adjusting said lock mechanism after the same has been released, means associated with the last-named means for engaging an article on said support whereby the same may be lifted from its position thereon and extracted from the said casing, a closure for said casing, and means for automatically opening said closure as an article is being extracted.

2. A vending machine, comprising a casing, a rotary article support mounted therein, vertically adjustable means in said casing adapted to engage an article on said support whereby the same may be lifted from its position thereon and extracted from said casing, and a lock mechanism movable with said adjustable means and adapted to retain the same in normally locked position near the lower' end of said casino'.

8. A vending machine comprising a. casing, an article support therein, 'guiding elements also supported in said casing, a coin controlled loclr mechanism'adjustable longitudinally of said guiding elements and normally in locked position, means movable with and relative to said lock mechanism for adjusting the same after being released, and a device associated with the last named means and including cooperating jaws having' cam gripping surfaces for engaging an article on said support whereby the same may be lifted from its position thereon and extracted from said casing.

4. A vending machine comprising. a casing, an article support mountedtherein, a lock mechanism movable in said casing, adjustable means for engaging an article on said support and extracting the same from said casing and having a pivotal and a sliding connection with said lock mechanism and also movable therewith, and adapted to be retained thereby in normally locked position.

5. A vending machine comprising a casing, an article support therein, vertically adj ustable means in said casing adapted to engage an article on said support whereby the same may be lifted from its position thereon and extracted from the casing, a coin controlled loch mechanism carried by said adjustable means for locking the same in a lowered position and released 'to permit an adjustment of said means whereby a predetermined article may be engaged and lifted from the casing. Y

6. A vending machine comprising a casing, a rotary article support mounted therein, vertically adjustable means in said casing adapted to engage an article on said support whereby the same may be lifted from its position thereon and extracted from said casing, said means having a handle for adjusting the same projecting exteriorly of said casing, and a lock mechanism movable with said adjustablemeans in a vertical direction and adapted to retain the same in a normally locked position.

7. A vending machine comprising a casing, a rotary article supporting raclr mounted therein, vertically adjustable means in said casing adapted to engage an article on said rack whereby the same may be lifted from its position thereon and extracted from said casing, and a lock mechanism movable with said adjustable' means in a vertical direction and adapted to retain the same in a normally locked position.

8. A vending machine comprising a casing, a rotary article supporting rack mounted therein, a vertically adjustable article lifting device in said casing including a handle projecting exteriorly thereof and adapted to engage an article on said rack whereby the Same may be lifted from its position thereon and extracted from said casing, and a releasablecoin controlled lock mechanism movable with Vsaid article lifting device and adapted to retain the same in a normally locked position `at the lower end of the casing.

9. A vending machine comprising a casing, a rotary article supporting rackmounted therein, a vertically adjustable article lifting device in said casingV including a handle projecting exteriorly thereof and adapted to engage an article on said rack whereby the same may be lifted from its position thereon and extracted from said casing, and a releasable coin controlled lock mechanism movable with said article lifting device and adapted to retain the same in a normally locked position at the lower end of the casing, said article lifting device being also adjustable relative to said lock mechanism.

10. A vending` machine comprising a casing, an article supportJ mounted therein, adjustable means in said casing adapted to engage an article on said support whereby the same may be lifted from its position thereon and extracted from said easing, a lock mechanism movable with said adjustable means and adapted to retain the same in normally locked position, a closure for said casino, and means movable with said lock mechanism for opening said closure when an article is being extracted.

1l. A vending machine comprising a casing, an article support mounted therein, adjustable means in said casing adapted to engage an article on said support whereby the same may be lifted from its position thereon and extracted from said casing, a lock mechanism movable with said adjustable means and adapted to retain the same in normally locked pesition, a closure for said casing, a segmental rack carried thereby, and a rack bar supported by said lock mechanism and engageable with said rack for opening said closure when an article is being extracted.

1Q. A vending machine comprising a casing, an article support mounted therein, adjustable means in said casing adapted to engage an article on said support whereby the same may be lifted from its position thereon and extracted from said casing, a lock mechanism movable with said adjustable means and adapted to retain the same in normally locked position, a closure for said casing, a lock for said closure, and means carried by said lock mechanism for releasing said lock to permit of the opening of said closure.

13. A vending machine comprising a casing, an article support mounted therein, adj ustable means in said casing adapted to engage an article on said support whereby the same may be lifted from its position thereon and extracted from said casing,` a lock the casinga lock mecln nism associated with V said means for normally retaining the same stationary and including a casing, and a coin controlled member mounted therein and operated by contact with a coin for releasing said adjustable means to permit of an adjustment thereof, and means for returning said coin controlled member to locking position whereby to prevent the extraction of another article from said first named casing after the first article has been withdrawn and the loclr mechanism is being returned to normal position.

15. A vending` machine comprising a casing, an article support therein, means in said casing and adjustable from without vfor engaging an article on said support and extracting' it from the casing, a vlocl mech( nism associated with said means for normally retaining the same stationary and including a casing, and a coin controlled member pivoted in said casing and operated by contact with a coin for releasing said adjustable means to permit of an adjustment thereof, and means for preventing the adjustment of said lock mechanism in one direction after an article has been extracted from the first named casing, and the lock mechanism is being returned to normal position.

16. A vending machine comprising a casing7 an article support therein, guiding elements also mounted in the casing, means adjustable in said casing for engaging an article on said support and extracting it from said casing, a lock mechanism associated 'with said means and mounted upon said guiding elements and including a casing, and a coin controlled member in said lock casing and engaging one of said guiding elements for normally retaining said adjustable means stationary and operated by contact with a coin for releasing said adjustable means to permit of an adjustment thereof.

17. A vending machine comprising a casing, an article support therein, guiding elements also mounted in the casing, means adjustable in Said casing for engaging .an article on said support and extracting it from said casing, a lock mechanism associated with said means and mounted upon said guiding elements and including` a casing, a coin controlled member in said lock CTI casing and engaging one of said guiding elements for normally retaining said adjustable means stationary and operated by contact with a coin for releasing said adjustable means to permit of an adjustment thereof, and means also in said lock casing for engaging said coin controlled member to retain the same out of engagement with said guiding element while an article is being extracted from the casing.

18. A vending machine comprising a casing, an article support therein, guiding elements also mounted in the casing, means adjustable in said casing for engaging an article on said support and extracting it from said casing, a lock mechanism associated with said means and mounted upon said guiding elements and including a casing, a coin controlled member in said lock casing and engaging one of said guiding elements for normally retaining said adjustable means stationary and operated by contact with a coin for releasing said adjustable means to permit of an adjustment thereof, means also in said lock casing for engaging said coin controlled member to retain the same out of engagement with said guiding element while an article is being extracted from the casing, and means movable in said lock casing for disengaging the last-named means from said coin controlled member to permit the same to move into engagement with said guiding element at a predetermined point during the return of the lock mechanism and adjustable means for extracting an article to normal position.

19. A vending machine comprising a casing having a vertically arranged slot, an article support mounted in said casing, an article lifting device including gripping jaws at the inner end thereof and a handle extending through a slot in said casing, said gripping jaws being adapted to engage an article on said support and extract it from the casing, a lock mechanism associated with said article lifting device for -normally retaining the same in a stationary position at the lower end of said casing, said lock mechanism including a casing, guiding elements on which said casing is movable, one of said elements having a reduced portion at its upper end to provide a beveled surface, a coin controlled member mounted in said casing and having a locking edge adapted to engage the adjacent edge of the standard having the reduced portion, said coin controlled member being moved to an unlocking position by Contact with a coin whereby said article lifting device and lock casing may be adjusted upwardly, a slidable member mounted in said lock casing, means carried thereby for engaging said coin controlled member1 for retaining the same in unlocked position after being operated by a coin, and means in said lock casing for at all times maintaining said slidable member in engagement with said reduced standard, said slidable member being adapted to engage the beveled surface of said guiding element and moved inwardly into said lock casing upon the downward movement of the same and said lifting device toward their normal positions whereby to release the means carried by said slidable member for maintaining the coin controlled member in unlocking position to permit the latter to move to locking position.

20. A vending machine comprising a casing having a vertically arranged slot, an article support mounted in said casing, an article lifting device including gripping jaws at the inner end thereof and a handle extending through a slot in said casing, said gripping jaws being adapted to engage an article on said support and extract it from the casing, a lock mechanism associated with Said article lifting device for normally retaining the same in a` stationary position at the lower end of said casing, said lock mechanism including a casing, guiding element-s on which said casing is movable, one of said elements having a reduced portion at its upper end to provide a beveled surface, a coin controlled member mounted in said casing and having a locking edge adapted to engage the adjacent edge of the standard having the reduced portion, said coin controlled member being moved to an unlocking position by contact with a coin whereby said article lifting device and lock casing may be adjusted upwardly, a slidable member mounted in said lock casing, means carried thereby for engaging said coin controlled member for retaining the same in unlocked position after being operated by a coin, means in said lock casing for at all times maintaining said slidable member in engagement with said reduced standard, said slidable member being adapted to engage the beveled surface of said guiding element and moved inwardly into said lock casing upon the downward movement of the same and said lifting device toward their normal positions whereby to release the means carried by said slidable member for maintaining the coin controlled member in unlocking position to permit the latter to move to locking position, a closure for the first-named casing, a lock for said closure, and means controlled by the upward movement of said lock casing for unlocking said closure lock and opening said closure.

21. A vending machine, comprising a casing, an article support mounted therein, adjustable means in said casing adapted to engage an article on said support whereby the saine may be lifted. from its NQQStOD- ing,

thereon and extracted from said casing, a lock mechanism movable with said adjustable means and adapted to return the same in normally locked position, said lock mechanism including a casing, guiding elements on which said easing is movable, a coin controlled member mounted in said casing and adapted to engage the adjacent standard, a slidable element mounted in said lock casing, means carried thereby for engaging said coin controlled member for retaining the same in unlocked position after being operated by a coin, and means in said lock casing for at all times maintaining said slidable element in engagement with the last named standard.

22. A vending machine, comprising a casy an article support mounted therein, adjustable means in said casing adapted to engage an article on said support whereby the same may be lifted from 'its position thereon and extracted from said casing, a lock mechanism movable with said adjustable means and adapted to retain the same Copies of this patent may be obtained for in normally locked position, said lock mechanism including a casing, guiding elements on which said casing is movable, one of said elements having a reduced portion at its upper end to provide a beveled surface, a coin controlled member mounted in said casing and adapted to engage the adjacent edge of the standard having the reduced portion, said coin controlled member being moved to an unlocking position by contact with a coin, whereby said article lifting device and lock casing may be adjusted upwardly, a slidable member mounted in said lock casing and adapted at all times for engagement with said reduced standard, and means carried by coin controlled member for retaining the same in unlocked position after being operated by a Coin.

FRANK HALLER COX.

lVitnesses G. WV. HALGY, Gr. lV. CRABTREE.

Washington, D. C.

said slidable member Jfor engaging said 

